The final push to complete the English marine plans is underway, and a very different process is making progress in Scotland (see below)

MMO ‘The Marine Management Organisation is starting the next phase of marine plans, developing plans for the North East, North West, South East and South West. Marine plans guide what happens in the marine area, making sure activities take place at the right time and in the right place, enabling sustainable growth. Marine Planning events are taking place in all these regions from April 11^th.

The events are an introduction to marine planning, for you to meet your local marine planner and to find out more about what marine planning involves, and how you can get involved. We will also be demonstrating our Marine Information System and the evidence base where you can view some of the evidence we have already gathered for your area.

The events are open sessions, including a number of scheduled presentations on marine planning. These will be held hourly, beginning at the start times shown below. As part of the events you will also be able to find out more about our consultations on the Statement of Public Participation and the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. The Statement of Participation includes details on how and when and to whom we will engage with through the marine planning process. The Sustainability Appraisal assesses the social, economic and environmental impacts of a marine plan. To find out more about these, please read our latest newsletter

A different process in Scotland: North Scotland Coastal Plan launched

A new marine plan promoting biodiversity on the north coast has been completed. The plan is the outcome of several years of collaboration between Highland Council, Marine Scotland and Orkney Islands Council. The plan will be used as the basis for deciding on planning applications and licencing applications in and around the north coast, Orkney and the Pentland Firth. Councillor Audrey Sinclair, chair of the planning, development and infrastructure committee said: “Key to the creation of this important document has been ensuring the local people of our north highland coast have had the opportunity to get involved with the complex process of regional marine spatial planning from the earliest stages.